Federpunkte

Federpunkte is a term found in German-language technical literature that refers to specific points associated with elastic elements, especially springs. The exact meaning is not fixed and can vary by field; federpunkte may denote attachment points, contact points, or measurement nodes where forces, displacements, or deformations are defined or observed.

In mechanical engineering and assembly design, federpunkte usually mark the endpoints of a spring in an assembly. These points determine load paths, stiffness distribution, and dynamic response. In more complex spring networks, federpunkte are the joints or connections between springs and adjacent components, serving as nodes in the structure.

In testing and experimental mechanics, federpunkte serve as reference points for recording deformation, for example where strain gauges are placed or where optical measurement tracks displacement. They may also function as boundary conditions in simulations.

In numerical modeling, federpunkte are nodes in a spring-mesh or lattice model that carry constraints or transmit spring forces; the choice of federpunkte can influence results and convergence of the model.

Etymology: The term combines Feder (spring) and Punkte (points). It is not universally standardized; some authors prefer terms like Kontaktpunkte, Anschlusspunkte, or Knoten, depending on the discipline.

See also: Feder (spring), Anbindung, Kontaktpunkt, Strain gauge, Finite element method.